2026 Orchard Ridge Ladies' Spring Tea

It's been almost a month since I last posted for which I apologize.  I missed blogging about the anniversary of the Titanic's sinking on April 15, May Day, and the 152nd Kentucky Derby which was yesterday, and probably other significant days as well.  Life has been very busy between preparations for a Generations Tea coming up at The Whitney on May 9th which required 120 favors for the attendees, and coordinating the Ladies' Spring Tea at my church yesterday.  Below is the promotional flier.

This is the 22nd tea I've done for the ladies at my church.  This year's theme was 'Bee All You Can Bee'.  I 'borrowed' the U.S. Army slogan but changed it from be to bee.  Bee kitchenware is very popular right now, and while we don't normally liken bees to Christians or use a beehive as a metaphor for the church, there are distinct similarities.  Bees made a very cute tablescape.

55 ladies attended this year's spring tea.  After work at The Whitney on Friday I met two dear friends at the church to set up.  

[Donna, Lori and Me]

When we finished I took a few photos.  Yellow and black were the colors of the tablescape. Normally the tablescape is elegant and formal with bone china teacups, dishes, footed glass water goblets and silver teapots.  But since bees live outdoors I opted for an informal, fun picnic type setting for this tea.  The ladies enjoyed it and a bonus was that it made clean-up much easier when the tea was over.

In place of china teacups, I ordered black glossy stoneware mugs and hot-glued a bee charm of the handle.  It was their favor to take home after the tea was over.

I ordered bee-themed paper plates, napkins and honeycomb cups from Oriental Trading Co.  On top of each paper plate was a clear glass plate to dress things up just a little.  Self-stick bees were attached to the paper cups for a little whismy.

Hobby Lobby had bee-themed ribbon that I used to decorate the tiered servers as well as tying the plastic cutlery together, and they had the cutest bee expresso cups that I bought to hold the sugar cubs.  The bee-themed table markers also came from there.

Seating chart using bee-themed fabric from Hobby Lobby, and there was enough left over to wrap the bear-shaped bottles of honey that sat on each table.  The lady at each table with the birthday closest to the tea party date got to take the honey bottle home.

There were seven tables of 8 and six of them had two white porcelain teapots on each.  I couldn't resist buying an International French Bees teapot from Macy's for my table along with a yellow Chatsford teapot that I already had.

We served Harney & Sons Paris blend black tea and Earl Grey decaf.

Pamela's Catering, who I've used for the last few teas, provided a delicious tea meal.  Below are the gals in the kitchen plating desserts.

Tiered servers waiting to go on the tables after the blessing was said.

This is the first time I selected Pimento Cheese in Phyllo cups for one of the savories and they turned out being my favorite.

~ The yummy desserts ~

I didn't get a photo of the plated scones, but they were delicious.   They were on the tables and when the ladies were seated they started eating them before the blessing was even said!  ;-)

A short devotional about bees.

My hubby is usually my photographer, but he didn't take any group photos this year.  I hurriedly took a few before the ladies began leaving.

My girlfriend, Sandy, seated next to me.  We've been friends since Jr. High School, and standing is a friend she used to work with and has stayed in contact with.

A sweet lady from church wearing a cute bee sweater.  When she left the tea party she went to a Kentucky Derby party so she had a fun, event-filled day!

My daughter, Lori.

And that's a wrap for this year's tea.  The next one will be in September, but I don't have a date yet.  My son suggested a patriotic theme to celebrate our country's 250th birthday.

I hope you enjoyed attending the tea vicariously.